John O. Crummett letter about black soldiers, war, Kentucky, 1863

John O. Crummett (or Crommett), a private in the 3rd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, wrote to his sister Celestia in China, Maine, about his service at Fort Heiman in Kentucky in 1863.

A native of Maine, Crummet had moved to Minnesota by 1860. By about 1880, his sister, then Celestia Strong, also lived in Minnesota, where they may have had other relatives.

Crummett wrote about the blacks who had left plantations and were streaming into the fort. He said he had been opposed to arming blacks, but now thought it was a good idea -- and a good idea to deprive the Rebels of the black labor. He also wrote about the progress of the war.

Less than two months after the letter was written, most of the 3rd Minnesota was captured at Murfreesboro when Col. Henry C. Lester and other officers surrendered to Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest.